by Catherine Haug, October 8, 2011
What: Montana Wilderness Association hosts SYRCL’s Wild and Scenic Film Festival: “Films to Change Your World.” (more…)
Archive for the ‘Ecology’ Category
Event Notice: Films to Change Your World
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011Upcycling – New Ways to Use Waste
Saturday, October 8th, 2011by Catherine Haug, October 8, 2011
After posting the newer version of our Repurposing-2011 Video slideshow on YouTube, I investigated other related videos that were offered on the right side of the screen. One in particular caught my eye: “Ideas for Upcycling, Reusing & Recycling – RETRASH”.
‘Upcycling’ is another word for ‘repurposing’, and implies that the new product might be better than the original(s) from which is is made. This is a short 1:40 video; check it out at Ideas for Upcycling, Reusing & Recycling – RETRASH.
You can submit your ‘retrash’ projects on their website: Retrash: Rethinking Waste. If you do that, send a copy to me, too, for a future Repurposing slideshow.
Unused, Expired Prescription Disposal
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011by Catherine Haug, October 4, 2011
Do you have expired or unused medications for disposal? DO NOT put them in the trash nor flush them down the toilet, as this method of disposal leads to contaminated ground water and soil. But you do have options: (more…)
Frances Moore Lappé on the Food Movement
Sunday, September 25th, 2011by Catherine Haug, September 25, 2011
Does the name Frances Moore Lappé sound familiar to you? If you came of age in the ’60s or ’70s, it should be a familiar name because she is the author of Diet for a Small Planet, published in 1971. Like most Americans, prior to this book, I was seduced by the possibility of sustaining life by science. I looked forward to the day when all we would have to do to keep our bodies humming, is take a daily nutritional pill. No consideration was given to the environmental and health costs of such a plan.
And then came her book. Wow!
Now she has written a powerful essay on the growing local food movement to counter the food-through-science culture epitomized by Monsanto. The following is from her essay, The Food Movement: Its Power and Possibilities, published in 9/14/11 issue of The Nation. (more…)
Sugar Trees
Sunday, September 25th, 2011by Catherine Haug, September 23, 2011
Our last gathering of the year was sugar-tapping. See the Gathering Summary: Sugar Tapping with Kathie Lapcevic, October 19, 2011. And in September, Arbor Day featured the Sugar Maple tree (Acer saccharium), which is native to North America (north of Mexico), primarily along the eastern seaboard of the US and Canada. However, as Kathie will explain, while the sugar maple produces far more sugar, even our own mountain maple and white birch trees can be tapped.
Taming Stormwater with Trees
Friday, September 23rd, 2011by Catherine Haug, September 23, 2011
Bigfork is currently under construction to build a new stormwater system. The project started last year from the top of Grand Drive near the school, to downtown at the intersection with Electric Ave. This year, the system is extended south along Electric Ave to River Street. In future years, it will continue south to the old bridge.
This system involves a series of plastic or fiberglass filtration systems, piping, and manholes under the surface of the streets, to keep toxic substances from entering the Swan River and Bigfork Bay. But did you know there is a better, more natural way to accomplish the same end, and at the same time provide an even more beautiful city landscape? (more…)